Crown Of Stars - Child Of Flame Part 50

Sapientia turned angrily on Sanglant." You know how he hates the Quman. It was Quman who killed his son. How can you even suggest that we use Quman troops?"

i "I'll use what I must to defeat Bulkezu. There is far more at stake here and now, Sapientia, even than this. As I will tell you when we have more privacy. Any man or woman who will fight for me, I will take into my army. If Bulkezu is not defeated soon, if the Seven Sleepers are allowed to act as they will without opposition because we quarrel about which men we deign to use to do our killing for us, then we will be no better off than that poor lad, led away in chains." He gestured toward Lord Thiemo, loitering like a faithful dog a discreet distance away from the palanquin as he waited for Blessing." Nay. We'd be lucky to be slaves. More likely we'd be dead and our father's kingdom shattered and overrun."

The force of his words made her uncertain. He could see it in her eyes: ought she to believe him? Object? Walk on? Call for help? Give a command?

He remembered the expression on Waltharia's face that night she had offered him a gold torque." To rule, you must lead, Sister," he said softly, "or else stand aside."

Annoyance flared." Where is your gold torque, Brother?"

"I left it with my wife."

"Who does not ride with you, I see."

"Who does not ride with me, as you see."

"Lady help us, did she abandon you and the child? Just as your mother abandoned you." She clucked reprovingly." Alas, you and Father have left yourselves at the mercy of inconstant women."

But Sanglant knew how to play this game." I pray you, Sister, do not speak so slightingly of your own blessed mother, Queen Sophia, for she was always kind to me even if all the other things they said of her were true."

Sapientia flushed bright red. She called to her ladies and strode off after Bay an.

Heribert stepped up beside him." A fruitless victory, I fear."

"True enough. And ill gotten, may Queen Sophia forgive me, for it's true she was always kind to me. It was the Wendish clerics who would persist in never trusting her, just because she was Are-thousan."

Blessing's childish giggle rang out, and she slid out from under the curtains, tumbled to her knees, and picked herself up before Anna could get to her. She allowed Anna to dust off the knees of her leggings and straighten her sleeves but hadn't a chance to speak before Sanglant lifted her up.

"That was rashly done, Daughter!"

Her sweet little face trembled, her mouth turned down, and the shock of his stern anger made tears well up in her eyes as she stared up at him in surprise. But she had to learn.

"You might as well stick your hand into a nest of wasps as crawl in where you're forbidden to go!"

"But-"

"Nay, I'll hear no more from you now, Blessing. You went where you were not permitted and did so without asking permission. Because of that, you may not walk around camp anymore today. Anna, take Blessing back to my tent and see that she stays there the rest of the day. Matto can help. Lord Thiemo, you'll stand guard over her. Do please kindly recall that you take orders from me, not from my daughter, who is after all barely more than an infant."

"Y-yes, my lord prince," stammered Thiemo, who had the grace to blush.

Blessing began to shriek in protest, then broke down into hic-cuping snivels as Sanglant handed her brusquely into Anna's arms." But, Daddy-"

He grasped one of her little hands in his and caught her chin with the other, so that she had to look at him." Is this how Emperor Taillefer's heir returns through camp, crying like a helpless child taken prisoner in war? You'll take the punishment you earned, and you'll take it proudly."

She gulped several times, fighting down tears. Anger swelled, easy to see as she screwed up her mouth in a pout. She bit back several protests, then, finally, squirmed out of Anna's grasp and marched away with her back stiff and her hands clenched in fury. Anna and Thiemo hurried after her.

"Let me go," said Heribert softly at his side.

"Nay, my friend, she'll only twist you into softening the blow. I can't trust you with her when she's in this mood. As soon as she starts sniffling, you'll run out and fetch her honey cakes, anything to sweeten the punishment. I'll keep you with me, in case I need sweetening."

"Well," said Sapientia, sauntering up with an ill-disguised smirk i on her face. She had seen the altercation and now returned with Bayan in time to savor the girl's scolding." I trust we have seen more here than we had cared to see." She turned to her husband." There are perhaps a score of slaves in the whole market worth freeing. I'll have my stewards take care of the matter. I trust we may leave the rest to rot in their chains." She indicated the Quman." Don't you agree, Sanglant?"

Bayan kept quite still, neither speaking nor showing any emotion except that both his hands were clenched, and Sanglant thought it prudent to retire from the field on this matter, at least." We've a long road, hunting Bulkezu," he agreed mildly.

She lifted her chin to examine Sanglant with what she evidently considered regal command." Now that you have come to aid us with your troops, you may join our war council tomorrow night. We'll be leaving Machteburg the day after." She beckoned to her attendants and she and Bayan moved away together through the throng that had gathered, mostly soldiers come to survey the merchants' encampment and get a closer look at their commanders.

A youth pressed through the crowd in the opposite direction. When he saw Sanglant, he changed course.

"What is it, Matto?" asked Sanglant as the lad hurried up.

"The old man wishes to speak urgently to you, my lord prince. He says he's seen news."

The phrasing sent Sanglant's heart racing. He had a tremendous sense of impending action, that moment before a storm surge breaks over the wharf. They left the market. A ferry raft took them over the river to the neatly-laid-out encampment where his army, fully three hundred mounted cavalry as well as a number of other fighters, had set up their tents. The ditch being dug around the perimeter was almost complete, the easiest defense against a surprise cavalry attack should there be Quman lurking in the woods. Wolfhere waited for him in the shadow of his tent's awning, out of the sun. Blessing had gone inside the tent to sulk. He could hear her companions talking in low voices; Lord Thiemo seemed to be telling the child some kind of story about a phoenix. Harmless enough, and it might serve to keep her out of trouble for the evening.

"What news?" he asked Wolfhere. They walked away from the tent, giving them some privacy to converse. Only Heribert and Druthmar attended them. The rest of the pack waited restlessly under the awning, sipping mead.

"I found Hanna," said Wolfhere in a troubled voice." I'd looked for her through fire and water both these past months. Since I couldn't spy her, I thought she must be dead- "Who is Hanna?" asked Heribert.

"The young Eagle I rode with when we took you over the mountains," snapped Wolfhere." Or do you even remember her?"

Heribert wisely did not answer, although it was clear by his puzzled expression that he did not really recall her.

But for Sanglant the name sent off a cascade of memories: how he'd first seen Liath during a sally outside the walls of Gent; the way her braid swayed along her spine, sensuous and inviting although she wasn't the kind of woman who meant to be inviting, not after the life she'd lived and the abuse she'd suffered at Hugh of Austra's hands. Hanna had called Liath a fool for marrying him." She seemed a wise and honest young woman," he said at last, surprised to find himself smiling. It had been a long time since thoughts of Liath had made him smile.

Wolfhere's smile in answer was as soft as a tender kiss." Truly, Hanna is more than she seems, so I've discovered. She wasn't dead at all but held captive and concealed by Quman sorcery."

Sanglant swung round." Quman sorcery!"

"Bulkezu's taken her prisoner."

"Ai, Lord. A grim fate, indeed. Was Ekkehard with Bulkezu as well?"

"I did not see him, my lord prince. I saw her only briefly because-" It was so unlike Wolfhere to hesitate, to show any uncertainty, that Sanglant set a hand on the old Eagle's arm to coax him. Druthmar had the patience of an ox, if rather more virility, and he had evidently heard so many awful things about Wolfhere from Hedwig that he found the old man fascinating, in the same way one stands watching from the safety of a bench as a scorpion skitters around the room.

At last, Wolfhere sighed." Because of the owl."

"Owl?"

"Many eyes watch," observed Wolfhere cryptically." But what I saw where the owl dispelled the mists I recognized easily enough. It was the royal palace at Augensburg, burned now, all in ruins.

That's where I saw Hanna. As briefly seen and as briefly gone again, but without question it was her, surrounded by Quman soldiers. That means that Bulkezu and his army ride north along the eastern bank of one of the tributaries of the Veser River."

"G.o.d save us," said Druthmar." Bulkezu has struck into Wen-dar. I thought he still wandered in the marchlands."

"Duke Burchard took a force south to Aosta, to support Henry," said Sanglant." There's no one to stop Bulkezu from riding all the way north along the Veser to Osterburg."

"How can he hope to take d.u.c.h.ess Rotrudis' city?" asked Druthmar." He'd have to besiege it for months."

"Truly, perhaps we're going at this wrong. Why lay in a siege at all, if he can just ride around them? Why go north to Osterburg when he could as easily strike west into Fesse and western Saony? d.u.c.h.ess Liutgard also rode south with my father. Who is left to protect Wendar?"

Yet the next night at the war council their debate hung up time and again not on the threat Bulkezu and his army posed but on the veracity of Wolfhere's testimony.

"You've no proof Bulkezu is in Avaria riding north along the Veser," said Sapientia for the third time as certain of her attendants nodded agreement." I can't believe you let that Eagle Wolfhere ride with you, after the king outlawed him. That's as good as rebelling outright against Father's authority- "Which I have not done, Sister." Like an ill-trained hunting dog, Sapientia kept veering back to the already gnawed bone instead of forging forward on the trail of fresh meat." Yet he has served me well. I might never have found you and Bayan if not for his Eagle's sight."

"Dearly bought," she retorted, "if it means losing Father's trust."

"How much trust can any of us place in the words of an outlaw?" demanded Lady Brigida, Sapientia's favorite, a florid woman with, Heribert had murmured, more hair than sense.

The lords standing at Sapientia's back murmured in agreement with Brigida's complaint. Even Thiadbold, the scarred, redheaded captain of the two cohorts of Lions who marched with the princess, nodded his head uneasily.

"Yet I wonder what news Father gains of us in Aosta?" mused Sapientia." Surely he has reached Darre safely by now. Can't your Eagle tell you that?"

"His army has come to Dane, so it seems. No Eagle's sight is perfect, and there are certain glamours and amulets that can veil that sight."

Murmurs rose from the a.s.sembly, hearing of such witchcraft.

"Nor have we heard from Princess Theophanu," interposed Lady Bertha, who despite being Hugh of Austra's half sister seemed to Sanglant the most sensible of the n.o.bles traveling in Sapientia's train." None of her messengers have gotten through to us, if indeed she has been able to send any."

"All the more reason to return to this matter of Bulkezu's army." Sanglant hoisted his cup and found, to his annoyance, that he had drained it. Bayan's Ungrian servants, two of them eunuchs, were as well trained as Bayan's Ungrian soldiers. A smooth-cheeked man hurried up with a pitcher of wine, a strong vintage that had already begun to make Sanglant's head swim. The Ungrians didn't cut their wine with water.

"If Bulkezu does intend to march on Osterburg," said Sapientia, "he'll be trapped for months in a siege."

Sanglant sighed, and for the first time he looked directly, and beseechingly, at Bayan, who had spoken not one word since the council began.

"If it is true," said Bayan finally. He paused. Every soul fell silent. It was easy to see who really commanded the army, although by every right and privilege the Wendish folk, at least, belonged to Sapientia." If it is true we can trust this Eagle's sight, who says to us that for months there lies a cloud of sorcery over the land that hides Bulkezu. But I know the power of magic. None better than I! Maybe now the cloud parts and the Eagle gets a look. So. If it is true Bulkezu rides north along the Veser, then what prevents him from swinging wide, around this city, and going on his merry way, as Prince Sanglant says? Bulkezu can leave a force of small size camped outside the walls, and with this force he can trick d.u.c.h.ess Rotrudis so she will believe he sets a siege at her gates. Then, if she so believes, she will not harry him until for her and for Saony it is too late."

"And he can do as much damage as he likes," agreed Sanglant." Or he could strike west before he even reaches Osterburg and go for Ka.s.sel or the Rhowne heartlands near Autun. The best we could hope for in that case would be that he drives all the way to the western sea and spends his fury laying waste to Salia."

"What do you think we should do, Prince Sanglant?" asked Captain Thiadbold from where he stood behind the seated ladies and lords.

"I say we march hard and try to reach Osterburg before he does."

"Impossible," protested Lady Brigida. She giggled, as she was wont to do when she became nervous.

Lamps lit the interior of the s.p.a.cious tent. By their fitful light, Sanglant saw the faces of the others, most of them regarding him with interest and mounting excitement. On the table around which they sat the leavings of their evening's feast congealed on platters of bra.s.s and pewter: chicken and goose bones; an eviscerated bread pudding with only the crusty sides and burned bottom left; fried griddle breads; small, sweet honey cakes; and berries flavored with a mint sauce-the kind of things easily prepared on the march." Then even if Bulkezu strikes west, we'll still be in position to pursue him no matter where he rides before autumn rain and winter snows make the roads impa.s.sable."

Soldiers nodded. Lords and ladies murmured noises of a.s.sent. '

Bayan coughed, clearing his throat." I have to p.i.s.s," he said cheerfully, standing, "but how I hate to p.i.s.s alone! Prince Sanglant, will you join me?"

Sanglant laughed." Ah, my friend, what man could turn down such a proposal?" He rose, drained his cup, and only staggered slightly as he made his way through the a.s.sembled crowd in Bayan's wake.

Bayan's boisterous humor vanished as soon as they got outside. His faithful Ungrian guards, the kind of hard, hearty men who would rousingly toast you with a beaker of strong ale one moment and beat you to a pulp the next if you offended their master, kept watch as Bayan strode over to the horse lines. He did his business quickly and waited, whistling softly under his breath, until Sanglant was done as well.

"Now, my friend," he said quietly, "we must have the talk."

"Ah, the talk. Which talk is that?"

"You are not a fool, my good friend. So I will not insult you with lies, but I will speak the truth."

"You're scaring me, Bayan. Are you going to tell me I have to sleep with Lady Brigida lest she take her retinue and ride home in a rage? I'd sooner sleep with Bulkezu than with her. Or maybe with her warhorse."

Bayan snorted, amused, but he shook his head and paced down toward the end of the horse lines, Sanglant following alongside, careful not to step in any fresh manure. The night was cloudy, although comfortably warm, lit only by sentry fires, the dozen lamps hung around the periphery of the royal tent, and the distant reddish flare of a bonfire burning away the remains of the dead at Machte-burg. South, Sanglant could see the scattered fires of the merchants' camp up on the rise where the ancient ring fort lay.

"So." Bayan hadn't Sanglant's height but he was as broad through the shoulders, not at all gone to fat as some n.o.blemen his age often did. He turned to face Sanglant squarely. In this dim light Sanglant could not make out his expression." Do we agree that Bulkezu threatens Wendar?"

"Of course."

"This other cataclysm you have mentioned. But I cannot see it. The fire of Bulkezu's army burns too brightly before me. What does it matter if your sorcerers intrigue if we all are heads dangling from Quman belts?"

"True enough. What did you bring me out here to tell me?"

"Let us speak bluntly. She has not your charisma. She has not your prowess on the field, and not your intelligence. But you are a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and I am Sapientia's husband. Henry named her as his heir, not you. What if you raise your sword and demand to lead the army? Maybe even you have no intention to cause her soldiers to stand behind your banner, but if you do so, then you shame her. If you shame her, she will have no choice except to withdraw. And so, my friend, will I."

"I'm not accustomed to being commanded by anyone except the king."

Bayan shrugged." So. If there is to be no agreement between us, then we must split our armies."

"We have a better chance of defeating Bulkezu if we hit him with our forces combined. You know that as well as I do."

"So I do."

"And you know our wisest course, if what the Eagle says is true, is to ride west to Osterburg and use it as our base to hunt down Bulkezu's army."

"So I do. But I am the one who married the heir to Wendar and Varre. I did not marry her so that it falls to me to stand back and allow a b.a.s.t.a.r.d to command me. I mean no offense to your mother or yourself, you understand. I give you the truth because I respect you. I am knowing you well, Sanglant. You will do what is best for your father's realm."

The heady courage given him by too much strong wine made him reckless." Do you know, Bayan, that my father wished me to marry Adelheid of Aosta and take the king's crown in Darre?"

"Your father is a wise man. You would have done well to heed him instead of running off after a witch. Then you would have been fighting in Aosta and Henry would stand here to drive out the Quman."

"Nay, my friend, it's not as simple as that. It's but a small step from reigning as king in Aosta to reigning as heir to the Holy Dariyan Emperor."

"This is only a story, I think. You are not married to Adelheid. Your father is. You are not in Aosta, taking the king's crown. Your father is. That still leaves you and me out here, on this fine summer's night, taking a p.i.s.s by the horses." He neatly sidestepped a pile of stinking manure, as graceful as ever. Bayan was not a man, Sanglant reflected, to challenge to a drinking contest." Tell me what you intend, Sanglant. Will you contest your sister's authority? Or will you yield to her?"

"Ai, G.o.d! You ask too much!"

They had walked far enough that a nearby sentry fire illuminated Bayan's face as he smiled wryly, with the barest edge of anger, carefully honed." Wendish pride."

A rent in the clouds revealed the quarter moon rising along the treetops. The charnel smell from the funeral pyre tainted the air as the wind s.h.i.+fted, then died. Sanglant shook his head, but as much as he fought to remember what it had been like to be the King's Dragon, whose life was forfeit for Wendar's safety, he just could not go back, not anymore." There's sense in what you say, but you ask too much. Am I to bow my head when I've never bowed before any person but my father? Not even for you, Bayan, and there's few people in this world I respect as well as I respect you."

That edged smile did not waver. Bayan's lips ticked up, briefly, as if in a spasm of anger, but he did not lose control." I will not ask you to bow your n.o.ble head, even to me, although by right you ought to. But if our armies will join, then there can be only one commander. That one must be Sapientia."

"G.o.d have mercy, Bayan, let's not mince words, if you insist. That one may be Sapientia in name, but it will be you in fact. As it is now."

"So, how does this trouble you? You will have as much chance to influence her as I do, will you not?

Sanglant laughed harshly." I'm not sleeping in her bed, G.o.d forgive me for suggesting such a thing."

"Bowing the head is not easy to learn, so I admit. Then let us here agree to defeat Bulkezu together. We go our separate ways after. Sapientia also is Margrave of Eastfall, I think you remember. When she becomes queen, I can persuade her to grant the mar-graviate of Eastfall into your care. I want Bulkezu dead. I want to drive the Quman back east where they belong. And so do you, Sanglant. If you did not, you would not be here now." They had reached the end of the horse lines and crossed now, by unspoken consent, toward the first line of sentries." But I do not forget your Wendish pride."